Razorbacks run past Michigan in season opener

November 7, 2014

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Kailey Anders and Chelsea Tidwell each found the back of the net to lift the University of Arkansas soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Michigan in its 2009 season opener in front of 758 fans at the U-M Soccer Complex. Cheered all night by a large Razorback contingent in the stands, Anders scored the season’s first goal in the opening half, and Tidwell secured the win with a score in the 78th minute. Playing in the first competition of the 2009-10 Razorback athletic season, the soccer team secured the department’s first win for the second consecutive season."We started the game a little bit slow but it was just a matter of confidence," head coach Erin Aubry said. "We got that first goal by Kailey and all of a sudden, it started to build from that. We had a huge crowd out here and it was fantastic."

After a slow start with Michigan controlling most of the early action, Anders provided an instant momentum shift with a 30-yard rocket high into the back of the Michigan net past the outstretched arms of Wolverine goalkeeper Kristen Keane at the 36:13 mark. Building from her backline position, Anders brought the ball up the middle of the field and ripped an uncontested shot to notch the first goal of the 2009 season.The score keyed a swing in play for Arkansas who started to apply forward pressure on the Michigan defense. The Razorbacks outshot their opponents, 11-8, in the match. Allie Chandler, Kat Moffett and Kathleen Paulsen led the charge with two shots apiece."(Courage) is something we talk about all the time," Aubry said. "It takes more courage to get forward, it can be uncomfortable. It’s easy to sit back and let things come back at you. Courage was the difference between in the time we scored that first goal to the end of the game."Kendal Winston got the start against Michigan and made three first-half saves, including a sliding stop to her right to knock a low shot away. The Wolverines had, arguably, their best chance of the first half when a ball served into the box bounced high and rang off the crossbar before rolling out of bounds. Britni Williams entered the game in the second half to mind the goal and tallied two saves to preserve the Arkansas shutout.In the second half, Arkansas picked up where it left off before halftime, keeping the ball moving forward. The pressure paid off with Tidwell’s goal at the 77:34 mark. With the ball deep in its own territory, Arkansas played the ball up the field and a pair of transfers connected on the scoring play.

Laurel Pastor-transfer from Virginia Commonwealth-ran the ball down and beat a Michigan defender around the corner before crossing the ball to Tidwell-transfer from Winthrop-who was streaking down the middle of the box. From point-blank range, Tidwell flicked the ball past Keane to give the Razorbacks the two-goal advantage.

"Chelsea is a fantastic player and she’s highly underrated because of her size," Aubry said. "We’re happy to have her here as a Razorback. She has a brilliant soccer mind and she was in the right place at the right time."Arkansas will return to Fayetteville for its Aug. 28 home opener against Air Force at 7 p.m. at Razorback Field. The match is part of the Razorback Adidas Classic. It will be the second contest of the day as Austin Peay and Missouri State will open the event with a 4:30 p.m. matchup. For more information, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.